Book Review: The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon

The Season of Styx Malone
by Kekla Magoon (j Magoon)

The Season of Styx Malone is a book about the summertime adventures of Caleb and Bobby Gene: two brothers in a small town. It has a similar warm, nostalgic feel to the movie The Sandlot. First they get in trouble and are assigned daily chores with a boy who has a history of bullying them. Then they run into a new teenager in town, Styx Malone, who comes from a big city and seems like the coolest person they’ve ever met. Styx uses his negotiation skills to get them out of a jam. After that, the boys start working on their “elevator trade” scheme: trading an item for a more valuable item until they can trade up for a custom moped called “The Grasshopper.”

Bobby Gene has concerns that maybe not everything Styx is doing is strictly legal, while Caleb is more intent on copying Styx’s laid-back style. Older readers will realize early on that Styx is in foster care. The brothers initially believe Styx’s freedom is all up-side, but they come to realize that Styx is coping with the lack of some things they’ve been taking for granted in their much-complained-about “ordinary” life.

This is a great book that catches kids’ attention right away with shenanigans, but gives them real opportunities to improve their understanding of themselves and others along the way.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Maniac McGee, by Jerry Spinelli.]

[ publisher’s official The Season of Styx Malone web page ] | [ official Kekla Magoon web site ]

Recommended by Garren H.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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